crafts

Mabel & I Finish the Quilt Top and Maggie Gets a Present

May 20, 2013 at 8:19 am by Claudia

Quilt top: done

I finished it on Saturday. Then I tried to take photos by climbing up on every raised surface.

Kitchen counter. Chairs. Sofa.

It’s also been rather gray and rainy the last few days, which doesn’t help. I’m not happy with these photos, but here goes.

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The aqua in the borders is brighter than this photo indicates, as are many of the other colors, but when I tried to mess around with saturation, the colors got too bright. I’ll try to get a better photo on a sunny day.

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Note foot on granite counter.

This photo captures the colors pretty accurately. But still not quite right.

I really love this design with its simple graphic appeal and colors that make me smile. It’s a happy quilt. Or will be when I actually quilt it. Right now, without the quilt sandwich, it’s merely a top.

Later on this morning, a few of us are going grocery shopping and I’m going to see if I can bribe my colleagues to hold up the quilt top for a photo op. Cross your fingers. I will be my most charming as I ask for a wee favor.

In other news, Maggie Rabbit has a new scarf:

maggiescarf

This yarn came with the kit – Alicia included a pattern for a cape. I wasn’t crazy about it for some reason, but I love the color of the yarn, so last night I pulled out a crochet hook and made her a little scarf. I think she likes it.

She also had some very minor ear surgery. Just like those of us who experience the sagging of our once-firm skin, Maggie’s right ear was a bit too floppy. The operation was done on an out-patient basis and within 10 minutes, she was out of surgery and up and about.

Maggie is one tough rabbit.

Happy Monday.

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My New Housemate

April 28, 2013 at 9:33 am by Claudia

maggiestanding

I’m more than a little in love with this creature.

She seems to have sprung up as if by magic from a Hansel and Gretel-y type woods. I can imagine her playing with the bunny rabbits on our property. Surely they would get along?

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She’s not perfect, but I’m not either. When I make another one, and I will, I will do things a little differently. I learned a lot on this project. And let me say that there’s a reason I don’t make my own clothes. Enough said.

Nevertheless, I’m in love with her. Alicia called her creation Maggie Rabbit and I thought to myself, I must change her name. But then I thought about my great-aunt Maggie who died in 1920 during the terrible flu epidemic and remembered that my mother’s middle name is Margaret in honor of Maggie. So Maggie it is.

I hesitate to share this with you as she might be embarrassed.

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Here she is, sans clothes and pre-nose. Don’t tell her I’m posting this on my blog. Years from now when she’s older, she’ll be mortified.

She and Wayfrum immediately bonded.

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See? They’re holding hands.

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Then Little Lamb joined in.

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Meet my housemates. On the left, Wayfrum Holmes, with Little Lamb in the center and Maggie Rabbit on the right.

This project was so much fun! I’m not the most patient or even remotely adequate hand sewer in the world and there was a lot of blanket stitch which took me a bit of time to master. Heck, I didn’t master it, but I did get better at it. I want to make another one out of fabric. I’ve saved all the pattern pieces and the directions for future use. I know that Alicia plans to offer these kits again, so keep your eye on her blog for the details. If you’re at all interested, jump on one. I guarantee they will go quickly – she sold out of thousands of these kits in the blink of an eye.

I’m feeling better – that headache was the all day kind that increasingly got worse as I tried to coach and fulfill my other obligations. I used to get those headaches more frequently, but thankfully, I rarely get them anymore. Still stuffy, still sneezy and have watery eyes – but this, too, shall pass.

I have rehearsal this afternoon and then Don is picking me up for 2 days at home. Since Tuesday and Wednesday are going to be days where I can’t really do any one-on-one work, I figured this would be a good time to snag a few days back at the cottage. On Wednesday I’ll come back and move from the hotel to the apartment. (I’ll miss the hotel. I’m settled in here and am not thrilled with packing everything up and moving it all – again.)

The winner of a copy of Margaret Fuller: A New American Life is Janice Murphy! Congratulations.

Be sure to stop by and leave a comment on my Poise Feminine Wellness products review. You could win a $100 Visa Gift Card! Click here.

Happy Sunday.

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A Walk in the Park

April 23, 2013 at 7:59 am by Claudia

Be sure to visit my review of the Poise Feminine Wellness line of products. If you leave a comment, you will be eligible for a $100 Visa Gift Card. Click here.

bushnelltreebuds

Yesterday was my day off. It was sunny, but windy and cold (will winter ever leave?) and I took a walk in Bushnell Park. Camera in hand, of course. The trees are budding and in some cases, in full bloom.

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The carousel. I was determined to take a ride last year and never did. This year? It’s on!

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I call this the Wizard of Oz tree because it reminds me so much of those talking apple trees in the forest. I love all the curves and bumps.

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Beautiful, isn’t it?

I ran into the young man who is assisting the director on Twelfth Night and we stood there and chatted for what must have been 45 minutes or so. I met him when I was here in January – he’s very nice, very smart and is just starting out on what will be an exciting career, I’m sure.

There’s nothing like sitting in a room full of actors and other assorted types and realizing they are all younger than you to pull you up short. Last year, one or two of the actors were my age or older. Not this year. And so comes the feeling that what they see when they look at me is not how I feel inside. They’re seeing the older Claudia, the woman who’s face and grayish hair and not-as-thin-as-she-used-to-be body still shocks her. And I realize that they are meeting me for the first time as this. But I used to be that. And they have no knowledge of that. But I still feel like that. Do you know what I mean?

I know I’m echoing the thoughts of everyone who reaches a certain age. This is nothing new. On one hand, it keeps me on my toes. On the other, it can be depressing. When did this happen? I’ve written about it before – in fact, the title of the post was On Being the Oldest Person in the Room. Theaters are always full of young, energetic people and that’s a good thing. But, boy, the realization that I am no longer part of that group still smacks me upside the head at times.

I came back to my hotel and started work on Alicia Paulson’s design for Maggie Rabbit. I didn’t start on it until about 4 pm, but I managed to create the body, head and ears.

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It took me awhile to make my blanket stitch look presentable. I’m showing you the best side. I did all this while watching the Red Sox and eating some cookies that I snagged from the hotel’s evening buffet.

We’re still doing table work but should finish by the end of the day today. I’ve started on individual coaching sessions and I’ll tell you more about them tomorrow.

Oh. Remember my request for a name for my Teddy Bear? The one that travels with me when I’m on the road? Well, I was falling for William when that sneaky husband of mine left a comment and one of his suggestions was Wayfrum Holmes. I laughed out loud when I read it. So Wayfrum it is. But I think Wayfrum’s middle name will be William.

Happy Tuesday.

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Mabel & I Finish the Quilt Top and Maggie Gets a Present

My New Housemate

A Walk in the Park

claudiahillsparks

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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